US6537323B2 — Low profile cardiac stabilization device and meth…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 106 words

A surgical device for a coronary bypass procedure comprising: a generally rigid stabilizer having a platform area having a length dimension that is greater than the width dimension and including a base portion and a removable end portion wherein the stabilizer includes an aperture area defining an operative site wherein the aperture area includes a proximal end portion, a pair of sides and a distal end portion and the removable end portion includes a pair of raised holding members adjacent to the aperture area and the removable end portion is removably retained on the base portion adjacent to the distal end portion of the aperture area.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 106 words

A surgical device for a coronary bypass procedure comprising: a generally rigid stabilizer having a platform area having a length dimension that is greater than the width dimension and including a base portion and a removable end portion wherein the stabilizer includes an aperture area defining an operative site wherein the aperture area includes a proximal end portion, a pair of sides and a distal end portion and the removable end portion includes a pair of raised holding members adjacent to the aperture area and the removable end portion is removably retained on the base portion adjacent to the distal end portion of the aperture area.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , having raised sidewall elements disposed along the longitudinal dimension of the proximal end portion of the stabilizer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The surgical retractor of claim 2 , wherein the raised sidewall elements have at least one raised holding member thereon to frictionally grip an end of a flexible connector.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 47 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , further including a flexible connector wherein the flexible connector is adapted to extend through the tissue of a patient and the flexible connector is retained in the pair of raised holding members on the removable end portion of the stabilizer.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 45 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer includes at least one tab member adjacent to the aperture area and the tab member extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the stabilizer and is sized to compressingly contact the tissue of a patient.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 51 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer has a plurality of recessed areas extending from the periphery thereof and the recessed areas are adapted to receive a flexible connector therein and under the stabilizer such that the connector retains tissue at the surgical site within the aperture area.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 60 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , further including one or more flexible connectors wherein the flexible connectors extend beneath the stabilizer and are adapted to extend through the tissue of a patient to draw the tissue of a patient into the aperture area and wherein the flexible connectors are releasably connected to the raised holding members of the stabilizer.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer further includes a raised connector thereon and the raised connector is sized to receive a handle member connected thereto.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , wherein the removable end portion of the stabilizer is frictionally received on the base portion of the stabilizer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 wherein said removable end portion is retained on the base by a connecting member that is severable to release the removable end portion from the base portion of the stabilizer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 112 words

A surgical device for a coronary bypass procedure comprising: a generally rigid stabilizer having a top surface and a bottom surface and platform area having a length dimension that is greater than the width dimension and said platform area encloses an aperture area defining an operative site wherein the aperture area includes a proximal end portion, a pair of sides and a distal end portion and a removable end portion is removable from the platform area and said removable end portion includes a downwardly extending tab member extending from the bottom surface of the removable end portion and the tab member is oriented generally perpendicular to the sides of the aperture area.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 112 words

A surgical device for a coronary bypass procedure comprising: a generally rigid stabilizer having a top surface and a bottom surface and platform area having a length dimension that is greater than the width dimension and said platform area encloses an aperture area defining an operative site wherein the aperture area includes a proximal end portion, a pair of sides and a distal end portion and a removable end portion is removable from the platform area and said removable end portion includes a downwardly extending tab member extending from the bottom surface of the removable end portion and the tab member is oriented generally perpendicular to the sides of the aperture area.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

The surgical retractor of claim 11 , having raised sidewall elements disposed along the periphery of the longitudinal dimension of the top surface of the proximal end portion of the stabilizer.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 34 words

The surgical retractor of claim 12 , wherein the raised sidewall elements of the top surface include at least one raised holding member associated therewith to frictionally grip an end of a flexible connector.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 59 words

The surgical retractor of claim 11 , further including a flexible connector wherein the flexible connector is adapted to extend through the tissue of a patient and the proximal end portion of the top surface of the stabilizer includes a pair of raised holding members and the flexible connector is retained in the raised holding members on the stabilizer.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 56 words

The surgical retractor of claim 11 , wherein the stabilizer includes said removable end portion adjacent to the distal end portion of the aperture area and said removable end portion includes a pair of raised holding members and is releasable from the platform area to allow tissue positioned in the aperture area to be removed therethrough.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 51 words

The surgical retractor of claim 11 , wherein the stabilizer has a plurality of recessed areas extending from the periphery thereof and the recessed areas are adapted to receive a flexible connector therein and under the stabilizer such that the connectors position tissue at the surgical site within the aperture area.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 71 words

The surgical retractor of claim 11 , further including one or more flexible connectors wherein the flexible connectors extend beneath the stabilizer and are adapted to extend through the tissue of a patient to draw the tissue of a patient into the aperture area and wherein the flexible connectors are releasably connected to a plurality of raised holding members on the top surface of the removable end portion of the stabilizer.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

The surgical retractor of claim 11 , wherein the stabilizer further includes a raised connector thereon and the raised connector is sized to receive a handle member connected thereto.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 46 words

The surgical retractor of claim 11 , wherein the platform area includes a base portion and the removable end portion and the removable end portion of the stabilizer is frictionally received on the base of the stabilizer to enclose distal end portion of the aperture area.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 35 words

The surgical retractor of claim 19 wherein said removable end portion is retained on the base by a connecting member that is severable to release removably the end portion from the base of the stabilizer.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 127 words

A surgical retractor comprising: a rigid retaining element having a generally elongate platform section wherein said platform section has a length dimension that is larger than the width dimension and wherein said lengthwise dimension is formed by a pair of laterally extending members and said width dimension and said laterally extending members form an enclosed aperture area having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a pair of sides and wherein said aperture area is sized to allow the attachment of a graft at a surgical site therein; a plurality of recessed areas extending inwardly from the periphery of the platform section; a pair of raised holding members on said distal end portion and wherein said raised holding members are adjacent to said recessed areas.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 127 words

A surgical retractor comprising: a rigid retaining element having a generally elongate platform section wherein said platform section has a length dimension that is larger than the width dimension and wherein said lengthwise dimension is formed by a pair of laterally extending members and said width dimension and said laterally extending members form an enclosed aperture area having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a pair of sides and wherein said aperture area is sized to allow the attachment of a graft at a surgical site therein; a plurality of recessed areas extending inwardly from the periphery of the platform section; a pair of raised holding members on said distal end portion and wherein said raised holding members are adjacent to said recessed areas.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 46 words

The surgical retractor of claim 21 further including a raised connector adjacent to said proximal end portion and said raised connector is sized for attachment to a handle member to allow for the application of a tissue restraining force against the surgical site by said stabilizer.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 46 words

The surgical retractor of claim 21 further including a flexible connector removably attached to said raised holding members wherein said flexible connector is interconnected with said stabilizer to allow for the application of a tissue restraining force against the surgical site adjacent to said aperture area.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 41 words

The surgical retractor of claim 21 further including a pair of tab members extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the stabilizer wherein the tab members are aligned with the proximal end portion and distal end portion of the aperture area.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 36 words

The surgical retractor of claim 21 further including a tab member extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the platform section wherein the tab member is aligned with the proximal end portion of the aperture area.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 166 words

A method of stabilizing a surgical site during surgery comprising the steps of: positioning a stabilizer at the surgical site wherein the stabilizer is formed having a width dimension and a lengthwise dimension and wherein the lengthwise dimension is formed of a pair of laterally extending members and said width dimension and said laterally extending members form an aperture area therebetween and further including a removable end portion thereon and wherein the aperture area is sized to allow the formation of a graft therein; threading a flexible connector through tissue surrounding the surgical site and removably attaching the flexible connector to the removable end portion of the stabilizer to stabilize the tissue adjacent to the surgical site with respect to the stabilizer; performing a surgical procedure including grafting a first blood vessel to a second blood vessel; releasing the flexible connector from the end portion and removing the end portion of the stabilizer; and removing the stabilizer from around the graft performed in the aperture area.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 166 words

A method of stabilizing a surgical site during surgery comprising the steps of: positioning a stabilizer at the surgical site wherein the stabilizer is formed having a width dimension and a lengthwise dimension and wherein the lengthwise dimension is formed of a pair of laterally extending members and said width dimension and said laterally extending members form an aperture area therebetween and further including a removable end portion thereon and wherein the aperture area is sized to allow the formation of a graft therein; threading a flexible connector through tissue surrounding the surgical site and removably attaching the flexible connector to the removable end portion of the stabilizer to stabilize the tissue adjacent to the surgical site with respect to the stabilizer; performing a surgical procedure including grafting a first blood vessel to a second blood vessel; releasing the flexible connector from the end portion and removing the end portion of the stabilizer; and removing the stabilizer from around the graft performed in the aperture area.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 26 further including the step of releasably attaching the flexible connector to a plurality of raised holding members on the stabilizer to apply an upwardly directed force to the tissue adjacent to the surgical site.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 27 further including the step threading the flexible connector through a plurality of recessed areas along the periphery of the stabilizer and attaching the flexible connector to raised holding members on the stabilizer to apply an upwardly directed force to the tissue adjacent to the surgical site.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 156 words

A method of stabilizing a surgical site during surgery comprising the steps of: positioning a stabilizer at the surgical site wherein the stabilizer is formed having a base portion and an end portion and a width dimension and a lengthwise dimension and wherein the lengthwise dimension is formed of a pair of laterally extending members and said width dimension and said laterally extending members form an aperture area therebetween along three sides of the surgical site and wherein the end portion is removable and extends along the remaining side of the aperture area; attaching a handle member to the stabilizer to stabilize the tissue adjacent to the aperture area with respect to the stabilizer and attaching a flexible connector to a portion of the stabilizer: performing a surgical grafting procedure in the aperture area; and releasing the flexible connector and removing the end portion from the stabilizer and removing the base from around the aperture area.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 156 words

A method of stabilizing a surgical site during surgery comprising the steps of: positioning a stabilizer at the surgical site wherein the stabilizer is formed having a base portion and an end portion and a width dimension and a lengthwise dimension and wherein the lengthwise dimension is formed of a pair of laterally extending members and said width dimension and said laterally extending members form an aperture area therebetween along three sides of the surgical site and wherein the end portion is removable and extends along the remaining side of the aperture area; attaching a handle member to the stabilizer to stabilize the tissue adjacent to the aperture area with respect to the stabilizer and attaching a flexible connector to a portion of the stabilizer: performing a surgical grafting procedure in the aperture area; and releasing the flexible connector and removing the end portion from the stabilizer and removing the base from around the aperture area.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 78 words

The method of claim 29 further including the step of threading the flexible connector through tissue adjacent to the aperture area, passing the flexible connector through recessed areas along the periphery of the stabilizer and then removably attaching the flexible connector to the stabilizer to stabilize the tissue adjacent to the surgical site with respect to the stabilizer and draw the tissue into contact with a downwardly extending tab member located on the bottom surface of the stabilizer.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-03-24	2006-09-23	2007-03-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-03-24	2010-09-23	2011-03-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-03-24	2014-09-23	2015-03-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Low profile cardiac stabilization device and method of use therefore

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